Biometric and smart card enabled global position indication system for interactive casino gaming

ABSTRACT

A system and method for providing access to gambling resources is provided. A GeoBio Indicator (GBI) reads biometric information from a user and obtains positional information for the location of the GBI. The biometric information read from the use is compared with stored biometric information. The positional information for the location of the GBI is compared to a set of the geographic locations wherein gambling is legal. If the biometric information matches and the GBI is located in a geographic location where gambling is legal, access to gambling resources is allowed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate toproviding access to gaming systems. More specifically, the presentinvention generally relates to a gaming system that includes apositional indication for a user to aid in the authentication of theuser's position and a biometric reader to aid in identification of theuser.

[0002] Electronic gaming machines (EGMs) have existed for decades. AnEGM is a generic term for any electronic or electromechanical game thatoperates by chance and that rewards a player with game award credits.Typical EGMs include simulated reel slot machines, video poker, bingo,keno, blackjack and lottery. Typical EGMs are coin operated. That is, aplayer wishing to wager inserts a coin(s) into the EGM in order to play.Additionally, many EGMs are capable of receiving paper money in exchangefor an opportunity to play.

[0003] Over the years, EGMs were developed that were capable ofaccepting substitutes for money. As gaming flourished, EGM operatorssought to increase the efficiency of game play. For example, instead ofusing money to wager on an EGM, the use of credit cards was consideredas a basis for activating game play. That is, a credit card could beused to insert credits into the machine. However, some laws within theUnited States limit, or even prohibit, the use of credit cards forpaying off gaming debt. Thus, credit cards may not be a viable optionfor game play on an EGM due to legal restrictions.

[0004] Some gaming systems utilize casino debt cards. Typically, aplayer pre-pays for a debit card at the cashier's desk, or from avending machine. The card is then inserted into an EGM, whichelectronically reads the amount paid for the EGM and deducts the cost ofgame play from the card. If a player wins, additional funds are added tothe debit card. At the end of game play, the debit card is “sold” to anoperator for cash.

[0005] Tickets or vouchers are also used for gaming. In this case, anEGM is wired to accept a ticket/voucher. Through a variety of methods,the monetary value of the ticket is transferred to the EGM.Unfortunately, however, the tickets/vouchers, much like cash, may belost, stolen or destroyed. Additionally, if the EGM runs out of paper toprint the tickets/vouchers, the system typically requires an attendantto insert more paper into the machine. Thus, additional time andresources are needed to maintain the ticket/voucher EGM. Also, thetickets/vouchers typically must be stored after redemption. While theticket/voucher method may be used with EGMs, the system typically is notconducive to table games, such as blackjack or poker.

[0006] Additionally, many casinos and other gaming locations issueplayer cards that are used to store information regarding game playfrequency. The casino typically awards, or “comps,” players forpredetermined levels of play. Typically, the player cards are used inconjunction with gaming tokens or cash. That is, in order to play, aplayer still inserts money, tokens, or representative media into theEGM, while also inserting the player card into a separate cardreceptacle.

[0007] A network based “casino” style gaming system is composed of manydistributed components that share security concerns to prevent cheating.In a traditional casino game, the slot machine or EGM is aself-contained unit that houses all components of play and the gamingpublic is largely anonymous. The slot machine maintains the game logicin either a wheel format or in a PROM format, the payout tables for thegame results, the cash in functions, the cash out functions, and thepayout or jackpot functions. The traditional slot machine discouragescheating by the anonymous public through physical means e.g. a strongphysical structure that is very difficult to break into and throughprocess methods e.g. the PROM's which contain the game play is verycarefully tracked and are spot checked for possible manipulation througha CRC check. These methods for preventing cheating are very limited in anetwork based gaming system. A network system, especially on thatutilizes a public network such as the Internet, cannot rely on suchsecurity methods for insuring a good game result and good game payouts.Different kinds of security measures are needed.

[0008] Further, beginning with its introduction on the World Wide Web inthe summer of 1995, Internet gambling has grown to over a $1billion-a-year industry, with more than 150 online casinos operating atany one time, most of them outside the U.S. Current U.S. federal law andmost state laws prohibit any form of online casino gambling. However,because casino gambling is one of the most highly regulated industriesin the nation as well as one of the more lucrative, the debate overlegalized Internet gambling is heated and polarized between those whobelieve it is a social evil and those who believe it is a profitableindustry that can be beneficial to both casinos and government (throughtaxation) as long as it can be well regulated.

[0009] Several states, including Nevada and New Jersey have begun tolook at ways to legalize, regulate, and tax internet gambling. However,two of the chief concerns that arise when looking to this form oflegislation are first, how can a state and its casino operators preventunderage gambling on the Internet, and secondly, how can a state and itscasino operators ensure that the person gambling is physically locatedin a jurisdiction that allows internet gambling. For example, NevadaGaming Commission Chairman, Brian Sandoval has said that he believeslegalization is inevitable, but that “State regulators should wait untilsoftware is advanced enough to block minors and problem gamblers.”

[0010] Player identification has long been a key issue in casinooperations for purposes as wide and varied as player tracking andmarketing, access to player accounts, taxation and reporting, creationof daily player loss limits, and the prevention of financial abuses,money laundering, and fraud. The most common form of playeridentification in use today is the player's club card, a magnetic stripecard that carries an electronic record of the player's account number.

[0011] However, the use of a magnetic stripe card with a playeridentification number n it does not provide any guarantee that theplayer using the card is the player who was originally assigned thecard; it simply grants access to the player's account number.Additionally, the integrity of magnetic stripe cards is easilycompromised because the cards are subject to corruption, the data storedon them is not secure, and the amount of data on the card is limited.

[0012] In order to increase the level of security, some casinos requirethe input of a Personal Identification Number (PIN) number along withthe use of a player's card to more positively identify the player, justas today's bank ATMs require such a PIN number. Yet even this increasedlevel of security cannot guarantee positive identification—a PIN numbercan be visually stolen or verbally transferred.

[0013] Because casino gambling is currently restricted to inside thewalls of a casino or other gaming establishment, such as a tavern or ariverboat, casinos have never before needed to question where thewagering is taking place. However, with the advent of Internet gambling,the location of the person placing the wagers may not be as readilyascertainable, yet may be of great interest.

[0014] Thus, a need has long been felt for a gaming system that providesa positional indication for use in authenticating a user. A need hasespecially been felt for such a system for use with Internet gambling.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention includes a GeoBio Indicator (GBI) for usein providing access to gambling resources. The GBI may be located at auser's personal computer (PC). The GBI obtains biometric informationfrom a user and obtains positional information for the location of theGBI. The biometric information read by the GBI is then compared withstored biometric information, the may be read from a smart card, forexample. The positional information is then compared with at least oneset of geographic coordinates representing a geographic locality whereingambling is legal. If the biometric information matches and the GBI islocated in a locality the permits gambling, then access to gamblingresources is allowed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 illustrates an interactive internet gaming infrastructureaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 illustrates a GeoBio Indicator (GBI) according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 3 illustrates a logical flow of the GBI physical locationauthentication process 300 according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019]FIG. 1 illustrates an interactive internet gaming infrastructure100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The gaminginfrastructure includes a home user personal computer 110 including aGeoBio indicator 112, a modem 115, an internet service provider (ISP)120, a firewall 125, an identification/authentication server 130, a GPSregistered jurisdiction server 135, a game server 140, a backendfirewall 145, and a backend system 150.

[0020] The present invention specifically targets the identification andlocation of the person initializing and playing a distributed networkgaming system. This invention utilizes positive identification throughthe means of biometrics, a smart card reader, and a location systemutilizing the Global Positioning System signals, for example, in orderto approve an individual for a game session in which real monetaryvalues are gambled. The below discussion is presenting in terms of ahome user gambling over the internet, but the various embodiments of thepresent invention may be implemented over any distributed network.

[0021] In operation, a user accesses the user's personal computer 110 athome, for example. The personal computer 110 includes a USB connectionto support communication with the GeoBio indicator as discussed furtherwith regard to the Figures below. Although the connection between thepersonal computer 110 and the GeoBio indicator 112 may be of virtuallyany type, including serial and parallel connections, the USB connectionmay be preferred due to its speed and versatility.

[0022] When the user attempts to access the gambling resources, theuser's biometric, smart card, and GPS information is determined by theGeoBio indicator 112 and send to the personal computer 110 as furtherdescribed below. The user's information then passes to the ISP 120through the modem 115. As labeled, the modem 115 may be of any typeincluding dial-up, ISDN line, cable modem, DSL, etc. The userinformation is then sent from the ISP 120 through the firewall 125 tothe identification/authentication server 130. The firewall 125 providesa security system for blocking outside server access. At theidentification/authentication server 130, the user information is parsedto identify the user and determine authentication for the user asfurther described below.

[0023] The registered jurisdiction server 135 may determine a listing ofregistered jurisdictions and send the listing of registeredjurisdictions to the personal computer 110 to allow the personalcomputer to perform a local comparison of the GPS signals and theregistered jurisdictions, as further described below. Additionally,other user data may be sent to the game server 140 via a customer keyexchange. The other user data may be used to access accounts links to aspecific user, for example.

[0024] The game server 140 controls the actual game play for the user.For example, the game server 140 sends the game display or game draw tothe personal computer 110 to be displayed for the user. Actual wins andlosses are recorded through interaction of the game server 140 with thebackend accounting and analysis system 150. Also, as shown in FIG. 1,data traveling between the game server 140 and the backend accountingsystem 150 passes through the backend firewall 145. Game results andaccounting information are received by the backend accounting system 150and stored in individual user accounts. The backend accounting system150 may also provide various analysis and control functions. Forexample, the backend accounting system 150 may be used to implementdaily user limits or special user bonusing. Additionally, the backendaccounting system 150 may provide regulatory and tax reporting.

[0025] The internet gaming infrastructure 100 is preferably used toprovide distributed network gambling, such as internet-based gambling,to authorized users. However, in addition to serving users over theinternet, the internet gaming infrastructure may be deployed over adistributed network such as a casino or in individual hotel rooms of acasino.

[0026]FIG. 2 illustrates a GeoBio Indicator (GBI) 200 according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention. The GBI 200 includes aGlobal Positioning System (GPS) sensor 210 having an antenna 212, asmart card reader/writer 215, a biometric scanner 220, a Random AccessMemory (RAM) 225 having program flash memory 230, a power supplyconditioner 235, a computer I/O 240, an electrically erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM) 245, and a central processingunit (CPU) 250.

[0027] The power supply conditioner 235 provides for the regulation ofthe power supply provided to the GBI 200 and also includes hold upcircuitry. The computer I/O 240 is preferably an USB connection as shownin FIG. 1. The GPS sensor 210 may be, for example, any of a variety ofcommercially available GPS sensors, preferably with an integratedantenna 212. The smart card reader 215 also may be any of a variety ofcommercially available smart card readers, or may be some other type ofreader for reading a user token. For example, the user token readerspopularized by the Mobil SpeedPass may also be employed. The biometricscanner 220 may also be any of a variety of commercially availablebiometric scanners.

[0028] As mentioned above, the GPS registered jurisdiction server 135includes a listing of all jurisdictions that allow gambling. Once ajurisdiction has decided to allow gambling, the physical location of thejurisdiction may then be determined by the GPS registered jurisdictionserver 135 or simply deposited into the GPS registered jurisdictionserver 135. The GPS registered jurisdiction server 135 may thendetermine a matrix of locations which allow gambling and express thismatrix in terms of the GPS signal. For example, the GPS registeredjurisdiction server 135 may define localities allowing gambling byexpressing the geometric extent of the localities at a matrix of threeor more points on the surface of the earth. Any GPS reading arising froma GBI positioned within the locality expressed by the matrix may bepermitted access to gambling resources. As may be envisioned, a largenumber of intersecting and/or non-intersecting localities, such asNevada localities or localities representing federal waterways orreservations, may be expressed in this way. Additionally, by maintainingthe matrix of legalized jurisdictions in a single location, easyupdating of the listing of legalized jurisdictions may be performed.

[0029] Once the matrix of legalized jurisdictions is generated by theGPS registered jurisdiction server 135, the matrix is sent to the GBI200 and stored in the EEPROM 245. For example, the GBI 200 may beshipped with an initial matrix of legalized jurisdictions alreadywritten to the EEPROM 245. The matrix of legalized jurisdictions maythen be updates as expressed below. Alternatively, the GBI may beshipped without any matrix and the matrix may be downloaded from the GPSregistered jurisdiction server 135 during the initial registration ofthe GBI 200.

[0030] In order to update the matrix stored in the EEPROM 245, eachmatrix is associated with a matrix identifier, such as the date ofgeneration of the matrix. Then, each time a user accesses gamblingresources, the identification/authorization server may compare matrixidentifier for the matrix stored in the EEPROM 245 to the matrixidentifier for the latest matrix stored in the GPS registeredjurisdiction server 135. If the matrix stored in the EEPROM 245 at theGBI 200 has an identifier that does not match with the identifier of thematrix stored in the GPS registered jurisdiction server 135, the matrixat the GBI 200 may be replaced with the new matrix from the GPSregistered jurisdiction server 135. Updates of matrices may also takeplace periodically or on an as-needed basis.

[0031] The smart card may be supplied with various information regardingthe user including the user's biometric information. The smartcardreader/writer 215 may then read the user's biometric information fromthe smartcard for comparison with biometric information from thebiometric scanner 220. Additionally, the biometric information from thesmart card and the biometric information from the biometric scanner 220may be sent to the identification/authentication server 130 for a secondcomparison to provide a secondary confirmation of identity.

[0032] In operation, the program flash memory 230 holds theinstructional programming for the CPU 250, and preferably loadsinstructional programming into the CPU 250 at power-up.

[0033] Upon activation of a game request by a user, the user's biometricdata is sampled by the biometric scanner 220 onboard the GBI 200. Thebiometric data received by the biometric scanner 220 is the comparedwith stored biometric information to confirm the identity of the user.

[0034] For example, biometric information may be stored on a smart card.The user's smart card may be read by the smart card reader/writer 215 toextract stored biometric information. The extracted biometricinformation may then be compared with the biometric information receivedfrom the biometric scanner 220 to confirm the identity of the user.Alternatively, the biometric data for the user may be stored in theEEPROM 245 or the RAM 225. The stored biometric data may then beretrieved and compared to biometric information received from the metricscanner 220.

[0035] If the biometric information received from the biometric scanner220 matches the stored biometric information, the CPU 250 of the GBI 200sends the results of the biometric scan through the computer I/O 240 tothe personal computer 110 and over the intermediate devices to theidentification/authentication server 130. Theidentification/authentication server 130 then performs a secondaryauthorization.

[0036] If the biometric information received from the biometric scanner220 does not match the stored biometric information at either theprimary or secondary authorization steps, access to gambling resourcesis denied.

[0037] If the user's biometric information is approved in both theprimary and secondary authorization steps, the GBI 200 then proceeds toverify that the location of the GBI 200 is in a jurisdiction that allowsgambling. That is, the CPU 250 accesses the GPS 210 and retrieves thecurrent location of the GBI 200 from the GPS 210. The CPU 250 thencompares the location information from the CPS 210 to the matrix oflegalized jurisdiction that has been previously stored in the EEPROM 245at the GBI 200. If the location of the GBI 200 is within one of thelegalized jurisdictions stored in the EEPROM 245, then access togambling resources is allowed.

[0038] Additionally, as mentioned above, before attempting to verifythat the location of the GBI 200 is within a legalized jurisdiction, theGBI 200 may send the identifier of its matrix to theidentification/authorization server 130 for comparison with the matrixstored in the GPS registered jurisdiction server 135. If a new matrix isavailable at the GPS registered jurisdiction server 135, the new matrixis downloaded into the GBI 200. The location of the GBI 200 is thencompared to the new matrix.

[0039]FIG. 3 illustrates a logical flow of the GBI 200 physical locationauthentication process 300 according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. First, GPS data is received from a one ore more GPSsatellites 310 by an embedded GBI antenna 312. The GPS signal thenpasses through an RFI convertor 315 to an embedded logic engine 320. Theembedded logic engine 320 operates on the received GPS signal todetermine the position of the GBI. The positional information from theembedded logic engine 320 is then passed to an embedded GBI locationauthentication engine 325. The embedded GBI location authenticationengine 325 compares the positional information from the embedded logicengine 320 with the positional information representing the matrix oflocalities allowing gambling. The matrix of localities allowing gamblingis retrieved from the GBI non-volatile memory 330.

[0040] As described above, if the position of the GBI received from theembedded logic engine 320 falls within one of the localities that permitgambling, the GBI permits access to gambling resources if the biometricidentification of the user has already been accomplished. If the userhas not yet been identified, the GBI then proceeds identifying the userusing the user's biometric, preferably a fingerprint. As mentionedabove, the user's biometric is sampled at the GBI and compared to thestored biometric information at the GBI (which may be retrieved from asmart card). If the biometric information matches, the biometricinformation is then sent to the secured database for biometricauthentication 360 for a secondary authentication. If bothauthentications are successful, then the user has been identified.

[0041] Once the user has been identified and the location of the GBI ina locality permitting gambling has been confirmed, the user is permittedaccess to gambling resources. That is, the user's personal computer isallowed to communicate with the gaming server 370 and gambling maycommence.

[0042] As mentioned above, although both the biometric identificationand the location verification are performed, the order of the biometricidentification and the location identification may be reversed.Additionally, the GBI may be alternately configured to perform only asingle biometric identification instead of performing a primary andsecondary authorization, if only lesser security is needed.

[0043] While the invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to theparticular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include allembodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A system for providing access to gambling resources including: a system for verifying the identity of a user by using a biometric identifier; and a system for verifying the location of a user within a locality that permits gambling.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said system for verifying the identity of a user by using a biometric identifier includes a biometric scanner for reading a biometric identifier from a user.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein said system for verifying the identity of a user compares a biometric identifier received from said biometric scanner with a stored biometric identifier.
 4. The system of claim 3 further including a memory for storing a biometric identifier.
 5. The system of claim 3 further including a smart card reader and wherein said stored biometric identifier is retrieved from said smart card reader.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein said biometric is a fingerprint.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein said system for verifying the location of a user within a locality that permits gambling includes a global positioning system (GPS) for determining the location of said user.
 8. The system of claim 6 further including a memory storing at least one set of geographic coordinates representing at least one locality wherein gambling is permitted.
 9. The system of claim 7 further including a processor for comparing the location of said user from said GPS system with said at least one set of geographic coordinates representing at least one locality wherein gambling is permitted
 10. The system of claim 8 wherein said at least one set of geographic coordinates representing at least one locality wherein gambling is permitted stored in said memory is replaced with a new set of geographic coordinates representing at least one locality wherein gambling is permitted.
 11. The system of claim 9 wherein said new set of geographic coordinates representing at least one locality wherein gambling is permitted is received from a centralized server.
 12. A system for providing access to gaming resources including: a biometric scanner for retrieving a retrieved biometric from a user; a positional sensor sensing the position of said CPU; a memory storing at least one set of geographic coordinates representing a geographic locality; and a CPU for comparing said retrieved biometric with a stored biometric and comparing said position with said at least one set of geographic coordinates, said CPU permitting access to gaming resources when said retrieved biometric matches said stored biometric and said position is within said at least one set of geographic coordinates.
 13. The system of claim 12 further including a smart card reader and wherein said stored biometric is received from a smart card read by said smart card reader.
 14. The system of claim 12 further including a memory storing a stored biometric.
 15. The system of claim 12 wherein said biometric identifier is a fingerprint.
 16. The system of claim 12 wherein said positional sensor is a GPS sensor.
 17. The system of claim 12 wherein said at least one set of geographic coordinates representing a geographic locality stored in said memory is replaced with a new set of geographic coordinates.
 18. The system of claim 17 wherein said new set of geographic coordinates is received from a centralized server.
 19. A method for providing access to gaming resources including the steps of: retrieving biometric information from a user; comparing said biometric information retrieved from said user to stored biometric information; retrieving positional information for said user comparing said positional information for said user with stored positional information; and providing access to gaming resources when said biometric information retrieved from said user matches said stored biometric information and said positional information for said user matches said stored positional information.
 20. The method of claim 19 further including the step of updating said stored positional information. 